The hearing planned for late March 2011 on the application for a variation to the Water Conservation Order on Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere has been postponed due to the recent earthquake. The applicants have requested a delay of 2 to 3 months and the new hearing dates are yet to be set.

Selwyn District Council have reported that Christchurch City Council are now able to start taking and treating sewage from Lincoln, Springston, Prebbleton and Tai Tapu once again. This means that discharge of raw sewage to the Halswell and LII rivers from these settlements has stopped, which is great news for the rivers and the Lake. [...]

Selwyn District Council are asking for residents to help reduce the amount of sewage flowing into the Halswell and LII rivers, and from there into Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere. This is the latest information about the situation: The Halswell and LII rivers are contaminated – please avoid all contact with the water in these rivers until [...]

Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by the recent Christchurch earthquake. Although the area around the Lake was not as badly impacted as parts of Christchurch, there are now some environmental problems. The Halswell and L2 rivers, which are now badly contaminated, flow directly into Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere. This information is [...]

The Land and Water Forum comprises a range of primary industry groups, environmental and recreational NGOs, iwi and other organisations with an interest in freshwater and land management. They are holding a series of public meetings which are an opportunity for you to hear about their recommendations and to share your views with Forum members [...]

A Water Conservation Order (WCO) is provided for by the Resource Management Act 1991 and recognises the outstanding amenity or intrinsic values that water provides, in either a natural or modified state. Regional and district plans must not be inconsisent with WCOs and resource consents must take the provisions of a WCO into consideration. Environment [...]

Environment Minister Nick Smith has approved a joint application from Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu  and the Department of Conservation for an amendment to the Water Conservation Order (WCO) which applies to Te Waihora/lake Ellesmere. Currently, only the outstanding value of the wildlife habitat is recognised by the WCO. Wildlife is specifically defined under the [...]

A summary of the key findings and conclusions from the second Living lake Symposium, held in late 2009, is now available to be downloaded. A number of potential scenarios for lake level management were presented and helped to focus debate around key issues.

As we push the limits of resource use, it is increasingly important that decision making for the management of our natural resources is based on sound science and an understanding of complex natural systems. From November 22 - 26 the NZ Freshwater Sciences Society conference will be held in Christchurch.  Water issues have received much [...]